Media
March, 2024
Faith for Cities Urban Design convening presentation
Faith for Cities hosted a collaborative urban design event that brought together leaders and organizations working in the overlapping areas of overlapping areas
of cities, religion, and urban design. They focused on faith-based Urban Design approaches to urban development at local and global scales.
January, 2024
Inaugural Faith for Cities Workshop at COP28 in Dubai
Our first workshop presentation was held at COP28 in Dubai. Click on the image to view the presentation.
March, 2024
Faith for Cities conversation about data presentation
Faith for Cities hosted a collaborative data convening event. In conjunction with our team, our guest, Robert Ndugwa PhD. (Knowledge and Innovations Branch, UN-Habitat) spoke about urban data and global monitoring of SDGs and NUA.
December, 2024
Faith Pavilion: Religions have a new scenario at the COP 28 climate conference
In a central place of the ‘Blue Zone’ in Dubai, 50 faith groups organise dozens of events. Evangelical environmentalists told Evangelical Focus what they plan to do at the large UN conference.
January, 2024
Evangelical Christians Stand in Solidarity for Creation Care
Reflecting on the Outcomes and Challenges of COP28. The World Evangelical Alliance (WEA), in collaboration with member and partner organizations, played a pivotal role in representing evangelical voices at the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai.
October, 2023
Press release
October, 2023
Groundbreaking Multi-Faith Initiative Launches to Reshape Global Urban Development
California, September 2023 - A pioneering multi-faith initiative entitled Faith for Cities has been launched. Grant funded by the Templeton Religion Trust (TRT), this project aims to leverage the profound influence of diverse faith traditions, in collaboration with non-religious partners, to champion positive urban development.
With urban populations set to encompass 68% of the global populace by 2050, the challenges and prospects of urbanization are more critical than ever. With this rapid global urbanization in view, the project’s director, Dr. Chris Elisara, remarked, "we're at a crossroads in history. With cities growing at an unprecedented rate, faith communities have a transformative role in fostering sustainable, thriving urban environments. This initiative represents a momentous opportunity for faith groups to harness their potential for impactful action and collaboration, ultimately influencing the future of urban living."
Key Highlights of the Initiative:
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Collaborative Approach: Three workshops will be held, focusing on understanding urban challenges, sharing knowledge, brainstorming solutions, and deciding on collective responses to today's pressing urban issues.
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Grant Proposal: The project will culminate May 31, 2024, with a comprehensive grant proposal submitted to TRT. The forthcoming proposal, co-developed and endorsed by both faith and non-faith stakeholders, aims to create a multi-faith framework dedicated to urban development, ensuring holistic human development.
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Collaboration with UN-Habitat: UN-Habitat, recognizing the potential of faith-based actors in urban development, is committed to working collaboratively with faith-based organizations co-committed to common causes. UN-Habitat, therefore, will be collaborating with this initiative.
The initiative welcomes participation from decision-makers across religious organizations, intergovernmental bodies, governments, and the private sector. Participants should possess expertise in urban development or faith-based initiatives, demonstrate a collaborative mindset, and be dedicated to the project's objectives.
For more details about the "Faith for Cities" initiative or to arrange an interview with Dr. Chris Elisara, please email celisara@thrivingcitiesgroup.com, call +1 760 822 2817, or visit the dedicated webpage www.faithforcities.org
About Templeton Religion Trust (TRT): The Templeton Religion Trust (TRT) is committed to delving into humanity's most profound questions. Through its initiatives, TRT supports interdisciplinary research that blends scholarship, scientific rigor, and spiritual exploration. From probing the intricacies of the universe to examining the interplay between science and faith, TRT continually fosters intellectual and spiritual growth.